The left loses their minds over Hobby Lobby decision

posted at 12:41 pm on June 30, 2014 by Noah Rothman

I imagine the horrified shrieks that rose from the streets outside the Supreme Court on Monday as the decision in the Hobby Lobby case began to filter out into the crowd of liberal observers was reminiscent of those poor souls who watched helplessly as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire claimed the lives of 146 young, female garment workers.

In fact, the similarities are eerie. It seems that liberal commentators have convinced themselves that, just as was the case in 1911, the courts and the country have deemed women to be of lesser value than their male counterparts. The distinction between these two eras, of course, is that while that argument could be supported in 1911, it exists only in the heads of progressives in 2014.

NBC News journalist Pete Williams, an accomplished reporter who is not prone to indulge in speculation, went out of his way to insist repeatedly that the Court’s decision in this case was a narrow one. He noted that the decision extends only to the specific religious objections a handful of employers raised about providing abortifacients (as opposed to contraceptives). Williams added that Justice Anthony Kennedy allowed in his concurring opinion that the federal government can pay for and provide that coverage if employers would not.

The Federalist published a variety of other observations about this ruling which indicate that it was narrowly tailored to this specific case. The Court ruled that Hobby Lobby and other employers could not simply drop health coverage in order to avoid mandates. This decision does not apply to other government mandates like those requiring employers cover vaccinations. Finally, if the will of the public in the form of an electoral mandate creates a groundswell of support for a government-funded program which provides access to abortifacients, then that would be perfectly constitutional.

Williams’ MSNBC colleagues nodded along and, when asked for their contribution, proceeded to display none of this NBC reporter’s caution.

“I think we’ve seen a real goal post-moving here,” MSNBC.com’s Irin Carmon said. “We may say it is a narrow ruling because Taco Bell and Wal-Mart can’t opt out, but it is still an enormous expansion of corporate rights and of the refusal from the laws that are passed to create benefits for everybody.”

“The larger doctrinal implication here is potentially significant,” MSNBC host Ari Melber agreed. “For the first time, the Court is going and taking the First Amendment rights that we’ve seen long established for certain corporate entities and extending them to the religious idea.”

“Just because it was only restricted to women’s health access doesn’t mean that it doesn’t create a devastating precedent which says that women’s health care should be treated differently,” Carmon added. She added that the Republican Party is the biggest beneficiary of today’s ruling. “So, the context of this is an all-out assault on access to contraception and access to other reproductive health care services.”

HotAir’s Karl has accumulated some of the best examples of liberal “schadenfreude,” as he’s dubbed it, in which the left utterly and intentionally misconstrues the scope of this ruling. Incidentally, their reaction also helps to service what appears to be a widely shared victimhood fantasy.

We’ve seen indications that the left believes this decision is a prelude to theocracy:

The Supreme Court #HobbyLobby ruling proves once again that Scalia Law is a lot like Sharia Law.

It is interesting that there seems to be more outrage over this decision from the left than there was when the Court struck down dated portions of the Voting Rights Act. Though that decision had much farther reaching legal and political implications, this is the issue that has captured the passions of the left.

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“We may say it is a narrow ruling because Taco Bell and Wal-Mart can’t opt out, but it is still an enormous expansion of corporate rights and of the refusal from the laws that are passed to create benefits from everybody.”

What the hell is the matter with people that want the gov’t to force companies to do this? This is the definition of fascism.

I’ve long given up hope of much of anything good coming from politics and court rulings. This thread, however, is about one of the few good things, mainly seeing my political enemies on the left unhappy and gnashing their teeth. The shadenfreude is delicious.

i hate these people so much. i know it’s not very Christian of me to say that but… it’s so hard not to hate all of these morons. so hard.

“So as not to insult Allah, this accounting firm requires that all female employees wear the hijab.”

yep. this is perfectly fine. an employer can do that if they want. it’s called a “dress code” and it’s something that most businesses have. most businesses don’t have a dress code with a required hijab but still, they have other dress codes. and even if a place did require a hijab then… DON’T WORK FOR THAT PLACE.

Can’t believe we live in a world where we’d even consider letting big corps deny women access to basic care based on vague moral objections.

how are they denying access???!! women can still access birth control. they are not denied it, that’s a lie.

What Hobby Lobby means is there are now two separate classes of women in America: those who work for privately-owned corps and everyone else

actually here are the two separate classes of women in america: those who practice abstinence and those who don’t. i do, and surprise, i haven’t gotten pregnant! wow!! what a coincidence that i just so happen to not have any unwanted pregnancies. and i just so happen to practice abstinence. amazing.

The Supreme Court #HobbyLobby ruling proves once again that Scalia Law is a lot like Sharia Law.

this is horrific. i don’t even have to explain how appalling it is that this decision is considered to equal sharia law. i am absolutely repulsed.

It’s time that five men on the Supreme Court stop deciding what happens to women.

you’re a man too so why are you speaking?? shut up.

and another thing i’m upset about are these idiots talking about how this decision “hurts women.” actually a lot of women are okay with this decision. it makes me so mad when people try to speak for us.

Though that decision had much farther reaching legal and political implications, this is the issue that has captured the passions of the left.

It’s all about pandering to the shrill stupid women whose whole existance begins and ends with their birth canals. They are the ones who respond to the whole war on women crap and they are the ones that passionately believe the whole world is as goddamned stupid as they are.

of the refusal from the laws that are passed to create benefits from everybody.”

The majority of the US voters never wanted obama’care’, and still don’t.

“The larger doctrinal implication here is potentially significant,” MSNBC host Ari Melber agreed. “For the first time, the Court is going and taking the First Amendment rights that we’ve seen long established for certain corporate entities and extending them to the religious idea.”

“Just because it was only restricted to women’s health access doesn’t mean that it doesn’t create a devastating precedent which says that women’s health care should be treated differently,” Carmon added. She added that the Republican Party is the biggest beneficiary of today’s ruling. “So, the context of this is an all-out assault on access to contraception and access to other reproductive health care services.”

“The larger doctrinal implication here is potentially significant,” MSNBC host Ari Melber agreed. “For the first time, the Court is going and taking the First Amendment rights that we’ve seen long established for certain corporate entities and extending them to the religious idea.”

What? Doesn’t this fool realize that religious freedom IS PART OF the First Amendment?

Why is it acceptable for the Pelosi’s and Reid’s of the world to issue public utterances on the decisions of the Supreme Court, or for President Obama to castigate them in the middle of his SotU speech, but not vice-versa? When will we see Justice Thomas’s Twitter account excoriate Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, or Barack Obama for enacting laws and issuing decrees that violate our Constitution?

Good grief, such outrage for a phony regulation. Unlike most laws, regulations have a shelf life that ends when an administration is out of power.

The only reason the “contraceptive mandate” was put in place was to awaken sleepy-headed “feminists” to vote for Obama in Nov. 2012. The Obama administration even offered a “compromise” for non-profits. If they believed in its legality so sincerely, why offer a remedy for non-profits for their own over-reach? The Court was more than willing to use against the administration.

It is interesting that there seems to be more outrage over this decision

Because wtf else are they going to run on?

They know the magic elixir to Barry’s base is a mix of single women that range from all-work to unemployed. They all share an LCD of unfulfillment, for a myriad of reasons, and the Dems use these issues to galvanize their frustrations.

This is the decision the left wanted, they now have their “War Against Women” meme to run on for the upcoming midterm elections. For the left, it’s not about solving problems, it’s about demagoguing them.

The Federalist published a variety of other observations about this ruling which indicate that it was narrowly tailored to this specific case. The Court ruled that Hobby Lobby and other employers could not simply drop health coverage in order to avoid mandates. This decision does not apply to other government mandates like those requiring employers cover vaccinations. Finally, if the will of the public in the form of an electoral mandate creates a groundswell of support for a government-funded program which provides access to abortifacients, then that would be perfectly constitutional.

Don’t believe the majority opinions about how limited they are. Didn’t the majority opinion in the Defense of Marriage Act said it didn’t mean that states were required to recognize gay marriage?

According to those liberal’s postings included in the writeup, the government is denying my right to vote by not making my employer provide me with transportation to the voting place. Add to that the fact that they are denying me food, clothing and shelter by not requiring that it be made part of my employee benefits.

The government is really evil for trying to leave me disenfranchised, starving, naked, and homeless!

Why not just make the companies that make the birth control give it away for free?/

Flange on June 30, 2014 at 12:44 PM

“Because that wouldn’t stick it to those CHRIStianists *shudder*. They must be made to PAY, in every sense of that word, for believing MYYYYY choices wrong. Agree with ME or be subject to tens of thousands in fines and go out of business, you God-botherers!”

It does not matter what this case was actually about (NOT all contraceptions). The Lefty politicians know this. But they also have figured out that the American public is easily swindled. They are not even remotely concerned that the people will be able to see through the outright lies about their claims.

It simply gives the Left the ability to squeel really loud and spread misinformation that will be gobbled up by the majority of the people, which means more $$ and more votes. Thats all that matters to them.

Who really thinks that the Hobby Lobby case will not be forever remembered as a defeat of womens rights?

“Just because it was only restricted to women’s health accessabortion doesn’t mean that it doesn’t create a devastating precedent which says that women’s health careabortion should be treated differently,” Carmon added. She added that the Republican Party is the biggest beneficiary of today’s ruling. “So, the context of this is an all-out assault on access to contraception and access to other reproductive health care servicesabortion.”

Do these idiots really think that their pathetic attempts at verbal subterfuge aren’t utterly transparent?.. that if they just refuse to use the “A” word, we’ll all be super-confused and somehow believe that this isn’t about forcing people with moral/religious objections to pay for abortion?

I’m hoping for a series of “unfortunate” accidents to happen to Hobby Lobby stores and the Greens.

jim56 on June 30, 2014 at 1:16 PM

Not even a half an hour ago, btw:

jim56 on June 30, 2014 at 12:47 PM

…But thanks for exposing your slippery slope fallacy and projection for what it is. Only true fascists believe that all others act with the same fascist tendencies, values, and diktat. You think those closely held corporations would embrace fascism because you embrace fascism.

I don’t think they ate this stupid, of course this ruling does not prevent any woman from purchasing contraceptive and abortion drugs. There is also the usual political theatre involved. I think the left truly is scared that upholding the first amendment religious protections will allow a baker to choose not to serve people of a certain lifestyle choice because of legitimate religious reasons. Its no different.

Yup, those on the left crying foul when they don’t get their way pertaining to a “woman’s health”, ie: aborting their children from their womb on a whim. Losing that “priviledge” next is what realllllly scares them.

While it’s funny to laugh at some of this, it really is terrifying as well. These people are completely insane and detached from reality, and in their delusion they are destroying the country. The biggest problem is that their insanity is outstripped only by their zeal and passion. They will never stop until this country is totally ripped apart by their madness.